US: 45 Wisconsin counties issue marriage licences to same-sex couples

Attorney General J B Van Hollen has asked two courts to issue a stay to stop gay couples from marrying

A majority of counties in the US state of Wisconsin have issued marriage licences to gay and lesbian couples, as some wait for guidance from the state and courts on whether same-sex couples can marry.

According to reports, clerks in 45 out of 72 counties in Wisconsin have issued marriage licences to same-sex couples, while 27 have refused.

Hundreds of same-sex couples in the state have married since a District judge overturned the state’s ban on same-sex marriage on Friday. Some paid extra to have a five-day waiting period waived, in order to marry immediately.